An Active Summer

Parents know that it is never too early to start planning for summer camp which is a great way to get kids active during school break. Whether you are looking for outdoor exploration, indoor team sports, or just general active fun, the summer should be a memorable time.

With many regional options available and slots filling in, WILMA has gathered some of the area’s camp options with a focus on sports, fitness, and outdoor activities.

Adventure Summer Camp
Childcare Network, an early education and childcare facility, describes its summer camp as “designed with fun and educational activities that will keep your child learning, exploring, and physically active during the summer months.” From dinosaurs to sports to science, the camp includes weekly themes that include activities, field trips, and creative projects.

Schedule: Full day, 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Additional: Food is included

Camp Kirkwood and Summer Camp
YMCA of Southeastern North Carolina has three camp options for kids, including day, overnight, and sports camp. This year, the YMCA has also added new campsites. Day camps include three programs for different ages and have different themes every week.

Activities for the youth day camp include sports and games, arts, sportsmanship, swimming, learning to be healthy, field trips to local parks, and more. There are also half-fay camps for young campers and leadership training for teens.

Sports camps (depending on location) include soccer, flag football, basketball, multi-sport, indoor soccer, and volleyball. Specialty camps also include water adventure and fitness and athletic training.

Camp Kirkwood, in Watha, N.C., provides day and overnight camp with outdoor activities including archery, canoeing, zip-lining, hiking, and more.

Schedule: Varies per half-day and all-day options, for schedule details click here
Additional: There will be an open house to get more information and meet staff on April 6 for the Nir Family camp, April 7 for the Midtown camp, and April 9 for the Ogden camp. Financial assistance is available

Carolina Gymnastics Academy Camp
The Wilmington gymnastics center offers all-day summer camps where kids have free play in the gym, gymnastics classes, outside play at a playground, go on field trips, participate in water play, and use inflatables. The camp is $62 per day or $300 per week.

Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Additional: Campers should bring lunch, snacks, bathing suit, and towel

iCan Swim
Coastal BUDS of Southeastern NC, serving the down syndrome community, will host a swim program that helps swimmers ages 3 and older learn water safety in a fun environment. Each swimmer will attend a 45- minute (for ages 3-7) or 60-minute session (for ages 8 and above) each day of the weeklong camp.  The iCan Swim program is adapted to accommodate the unique abilities of each swimmer who is assigned a volunteer.

Schedule: August 8-12
Additional: Volunteer registration is open. Volunteers should be at least 15 years old, be comfortable in the water, and have prior experience working with people with disabilities

Outdoor Adventure Camps
Wilmington Outdoor Adventure’s 2022 summer camp options include a kayak and surf camp, afternoon kayak camp, and coastal kids camp. The kayak and surf camp are for kids 10 years and older and all surfing levels with surf lessons given to beginners. The afternoon kayak camp includes paddling and exploration of waterways in Pender and New Hanover counties and is for kids ages 9 and up. Coastal kids camp for kids ages 7-9 includes a week of field trips to coastal locations.

Schedule: Kayak and surf: August 1-4 and August 15-18, afternoon kayak: June 13-16, coastal kids: June 27- July 1
Additional: Drop off and pick up for kayak and surf and coastal kids is in Wilmington, and in Hampstead for the afternoon kayak camp

Summer Nature Camp
Cape Fear River Watch hosts a nature camp where campers can explore plants, animals, and ecosystems in the region. Activities will include outdoor adventures, daily field trips to a salt marsh, the beach, Cape Fear River, and more. Kids will learn about the region’s nature through experiments, searching for Venus flytraps, paddle-boating a lake, and other outdoor activities. The cost for the camp is $160 per week which includes lunch and snacks.

Schedule: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Additional: Scholarships are available

Summer Surf Camp
Wilmington Surf Adventures will offer three different five-day surf camps this year. The camps will be at Wrightsville Beach and kids will learn skills and ocean knowledge including how wind, tides, currents, and waves can affect surfing conditions. Camps are held during low tides to ensure safety and also have a focus on environmental stewardship.

Schedule: June 20-24, July 18-22, August 1-5 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Additional: Soft top surfboards and rashguards will be provided

Wilmington Parks Camp
The City of Wilmington Parks & Recreation has several more affordable camp options including full and half-day camp, nature, archery, basketball, flag football, sports, and T-ball camps. Day camps include activities such as games, arts and crafts, sports, field trips, and more. Natura camps will include educational trips on the diversity of plants and animals including forest and pond outdoor excursions. Sports camp will cover volleyball, soccer, disc golf, adaptive sports, tennis, pickleball, badminton, and fishing.

Schedule: Varies per camp, MLK Center: Monday-Friday, 7:45 a.m.- 5:30 p.m. Davis Center: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. For more schedule information, click here
Additional: Day camp cost is $30 per week at MLK and $15 per week at Davis Center. In-person registration is required

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